Why should Boy Scouts and mainstream society defer to gay community?

I believe the gay community is a relatively small percentage of our population, but they seem to think the universe revolves around them. My sons are all Eagle Scouts, but it never would have happened in this modern, “enlightened” world, because I wouldn’t have dared send them on all the overnight camp-outs if there had been gay scouts and leaders there.

The safety of young boys is more important than trying to prove that we’re up to date in all we do. I applaud the Boy Scouts of America for the courage to take a stand in maintaining their position and protecting the boys in their troops. I’m tired of us “straight” people being put on the defensive for our traditional beliefs.

Julie Richmond, Littleton

This letter was published in the Aug. 15 edition.

For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here[1]. Follow DPLetters[2] on Twitter to receive updates about new letters to the editor when they’re posted.

Allowing the gay community equal opportunity is not deferring to them. You imply that a gay scout or leader would by default try and get in your son’s pants simply because they are gay, and that all gays are pedophiles. You are truly a narrow minded and prejudicial woman. I wonder if one of your sons was gay would you disown him? My guess is yes

#2 Comment By thor On August 14, 2012 @ 11:35 pm

My guess is that she would love her son. Your response is as narrow-minded as you accuse Julie of being. Now, as to the Scouts, groups are able to choose those who join their groups. As to whether or not a gay Scout leader is a pedophile, no parent can take that chance.

#3 Comment By Marcus816+ On August 15, 2012 @ 12:02 am

So of course but there is no chance that a heterosexual could be a pedophile. And yes private clubs can discriminate against anyone they want to. Oh and please explain how keeping LGBT youth out of the Boy Scouts is anything but bigotry.

#4 Comment By Marcus816+ On August 15, 2012 @ 12:04 am

If I recall correctly Sandusky is a heterosexual, guess that answers that question.

#5 Comment By Obamawins On August 15, 2012 @ 12:22 am

I’ll bet thor and julie would’ve handed their kids over to him because there was “no chance” of abuse, since he wasn’t gay. What a pathetic pair they are!

#6 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 12:26 am

No, thor.
A few fundamentalist Christians believe Muslims follow a false or even evil religion, and therefore every effort must be made to “save” Muslim children from doom. But, no one says all fundamentalist Christians shouldn’t be Boy Scout leaders because they might try to “save” Muslim boys against the boys’ will. Instead, any fundamentalist Christian Boy Scout leader who acts outrageously towards Muslim boys is fired, and an apology issued to the boy’s parents.
Yet, the Boy Scouts condemn every single gay or bisexual man with the same tar brush, while not applying the same standard to straight men. Straight men have been known to abuse children, yet I don’t see “anyone” advocating that, to be safe, all Scout leaders should be Roman Catholic nuns.
The Girl Scouts do not replace such restrictions on lesbian women. I can’t recall their child-abuse rate being any higher than the Boy Scouts.

#7 Comment By TomFromTheNews On August 15, 2012 @ 12:32 am

“I wouldn’t have dared send them on all the overnight camp-outs if there had been gay scouts and leaders there.”

This painfully ignorant comment says everything we need to know about this mindset. One day it will be gone, LGBT inclusiveness in organizations like the BSA will be no big deal, and we’ll shake our heads in wonder that people ever gave credence to such fear.

#8 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 12:44 am

I look at comments like Ms. Richmond’s, and I want to weep.
The arrogance in that letter.
So, if Ms. Richmond had heard that her sons’ Boy Scout troop leader, or one of the other boys in the troop, was gay, she would have pulled her sons out of all overnight camp-outs, potentially wrecking the sons’ chances of becoming Eagle Scouts — with NO proof that the leader or the troop members had EVER done ANYTHING to harm ANYONE.
And all along, she knows that she is right, and people who support gays are wrong.
If she runs a store, and an atheist shoplifted some goods, would she then want the right to refuse all atheists access to her store?

#9 Comment By irisman On August 15, 2012 @ 1:16 am

I’ve heard the Julie Richmond story several times over. When Jews tried to gain admittance to prestigious schools or other organizations, people accused them of trying to take over. some of the first interracial couples suffered persecution and were run out of their neighborhoods. Then blacks were accused of trying to force their way in where they weren’t wanted. Now it’s all about gays and their supposed demand for special privileges. It never changes.

#10 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 1:24 am

The Boy Scouts is a private organization that was established as a private organization for those who desire to abide by the rules the Boy Scouts established for the purpose or purposes the Boy Scouts and its rules were so established.

As such, the Boy Scouts can include and exclude whoever they want for whatever reason they want…….if doing so, in their eyes, maintains the moral and ethics that they wish to both abide by and pass on to their members.

As such, t he Boy Scouts are not unlike any other private organization or club that both establishes its membership requirements and its rules to maintain the “order” the organization or club was established to maintain.

There cannot be any requirement that a Satanist Club MUST include Christians, that a Corvette Club MUST include those with Vipers, that the Black Congressional Caucus MUST include White Republicans, that the Black Panthers MUST include members of the KKK, that an organization that is Pro-Choice MUST include Pro-Lifers…….or any one of hundreds of other such things……nor can the Boy Scouts be FORCED to accept as a Leader or as a Member those who lifestyles are Just As Contrary to the “morals” and “ideology” the Boy Scouts wish to maintain and instill.

#11 Comment By Samuel On August 15, 2012 @ 1:39 am

Absolutely agree with the letter. Getting tired of the liberal (mainstream?) media’s push to make the majority bend over and be “gay”.

#12 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 2:31 am

Agreed.
Her last line is a classic.

#13 Comment By DR On August 15, 2012 @ 2:39 am

The term “traditional beliefs” is nothing more than code for “Its ok to persecute some of my fellow human beings because scripture says it ok.”

Like most hypocrites you think hiding behind scripture shields you from any criticism because scripture gives you license, if you’re so inclined, to act in ways that makes the rest of the civilized world hang its head in shame and embarrassment. Theres nothing you can’t read into to it or take from it, so whatever nasty, shitty, little attitude you harbor towards your fellow man will find justification in scripture. The way you follow and/or interpret scripture reveals who you are in your heart. In that sense its not a shield at all. Its a spotlight that shows off an evil heart like an x-ray.

I pity you…

#14 Comment By irisman On August 15, 2012 @ 2:41 am

Yup, if I can’t stomp on people who I don’t like, then I’m the one who’s persecuted.

#15 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 3:11 am

Spot on!
In PA, a few years back, a group of kids were taunting a gay student at a public high school. Constantly heckling him by following him, and endlessly repeating bible verses at him. They wouldn’t stop. The kid complained to his parents. His parents complained to the school. The school called in the hecklers’ and harassers’ parents and told the hecklers and harassers in front of the parents to knock it off — or face suspension.
Did the parents scold their children? No.
Did the parents back the school and tell their children they will show respect to all other students? No.
The parents hired an attorney — and sued the school for violating the HARASSING STUDENTS’ rights. Why, it was violating their religious freedom to be told they couldn’t tell a gay kid he was going to Hell.
That mentality I do not understand. To feel you have a divine right to harass, heckle, and ridicule someone — but God forbid someone should heckle or harass your kids.

#16 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 3:28 am

I detest it when they say, “But, but! I’m not saying this. The bible (or the Church or God) told me to say this.”
Wrong. To them I want to say:
YOU are saying this. Not your conception of a deity or The Deity. Not a religious structure. Not a book. YOU are.
At least have the guts to stand up on your own feet and proclaim “I say you are doomed …”
Don’t hide behind God’s or Mother Church’s skirts.

#17 Comment By thor On August 15, 2012 @ 3:36 am

No, pete, his true feelings. But then, that’s just my opinion. Just like most of what you write when you get on one of your streams of consciousness. But then, isn’t what most of the things posted on here are?

#18 Comment By thor On August 15, 2012 @ 3:38 am

Obamawins, surprise me and post something where you do more than call names. If you post something of substance, I promise to applaud.

#19 Comment By TomFromTheNews On August 15, 2012 @ 3:55 am

“…bend over and be ‘gay'”?? When will the hate speech stop?

#20 Comment By Ken Lord On August 15, 2012 @ 5:29 am

I don’t have a beef with the boy scouts… but as a gay person, I have a beef with the state demanding my tax dollars going to subsidize an organization that teaches that I’m evil. If they want to hate me, that’s fine, but they keep trying to straddle the public-private line because as much as they hate me, they love my wallet.

#21 Comment By Obamawins On August 15, 2012 @ 2:49 pm

I could care less if you applaud. I know I can’t applaud what you posted: “As to whether or not a gay Scout leader is a pedophile, no parent can take that chance.”
Is it just a scout leader you’re afraid of? I think not. You’re afraid that ALL gay people are pedophiles. You’ve claimed in the past that “I have gay friends”. Baloney! Nobody would be your “friend” if you falsely suspect them of being a pedophile, simply for being gay!! Because you “can’t take that chance”. So that WAS pathetic along with the letter from julie.

#22 Comment By jimmyB On August 15, 2012 @ 2:50 pm

“….defer to the gay community?” No. ACCEPT the gay community, yes.

#23 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 3:04 pm

By your rationale, no parent should ever allow their child to have a heterosexual teacher of the opposite sex. Can’t take that chance, right?

#24 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 3:10 pm

I suppose, then, they should stop using public buildings to host their meetings.

#25 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 3:17 pm

Fine Robt – then let’s stop giving them “breaks” on campground rentals, tax breaks, etc. The problem is that they want it both ways – they want the advantages of being “all inclusive” and the self-ascribed (and completely unearned) “moral superiority” by being BIGOTS!

#26 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 3:26 pm

Ironically, one of the lawsuits came from a lesbian (female) who was ejected from being her son’s Cub Scout troop leader. I can’t imagine anyone safer (as far as potential pedophilia) for a bunch of boys than a lesbian woman. In addition – I’m guessing that Ms. Richmond attended ALL of her sons’ overnighters, since the vast majority of pedophiles are identified as “straight” males who somehow manage to get in a position of trust – like SANDUSKY (ironic that a bunch of folks are blaming the mostly single parents for leaving their boys alone with that pedophile). I understand wanting to protect the children – but wouldn’t the parents be better off teaching those children how to report and fight off “unwanted advances” (regardless or who is initiating them – like FAMILY or FAMILY FRIENDS) – and maybe to do their best never to be alone with adults who make them feel uncomfortable…

So here’s what I hear you saying to me, a gay man, a partner, and parent. You’re saying to me that you believe I’m a very bad person who must be some sort of predator who would hurt your son. That I am some sort of “safety risk” to young men and boys and that you fear me.

I’m sorry you are so misinformed. I do not harm other people. I’m not a pedophile, rapist, or thug. I have no sexual attraction to boys. It’s bigots like you who make life difficult for gay people. Your ignorance is disturbing!

#29 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 3:46 pm

I always love how religous bigotted conservatives try to turn a Christian value of love, compassion, acceptance, nd understanding into an attack on themselves. Nothing can be more hypocritical than a majority-powerful white person whining about being targeted as being an abused minority. . . or a bigoted white female alleging she is being persecuted for being in a 90% majority because she’s straight (normal). Ignorance where is they sting!

#30 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 3:51 pm

This common ignorant (“naive” is too kind) notion that gay men only want to sexually abuse young boys, is the kind of “religion” that permeats the dumbed-down “believers” in our society that dominate the political right, because science, facts, truth, and reality just can’t fit their narrow mindedness. The fact (that word people like Julie rejects) is that Julies sons, are in the care, presence, and contact with gay men every day – they just aren’t aware of it. For some more reasonable conservatives that’s acceptable – for for fear-mongering religious conservatives like Julie, it’s not. They want to put gays in a place that makes them feel “safer.”

#31 Comment By FakeDrudge.com On August 15, 2012 @ 4:07 pm

There’s a reason they dont allow girls in the boy scouts — because boys like to put their willies in them. Why don’t we allow gay boys in the boy scouts? Same exact reason.

The problem sir isn’t that we think you’re a pervert because you’re gay, it’s that we KNOW you’re a pervert because you’re a man just like the rest of us. Boys will be boys.

#32 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 4:08 pm

Lady,
It seems among my straight male friends, the most who experimented with gay sex as children did so during boy scout camping trips.

#33 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 4:12 pm

thor I always thought you were smarter than to say ignorant, biggoted things like this (now this is where you deny your bigotry, and say you have gay friends too! ;o) Yes, we do have “choices” to make, and since businesses “people too” they can discriminate, within reason. But the choices we make – whether it’s a company president coming out against gays – are the choice we have to live with. And when “living” seems tortured by people who feel your choices are bigotted and non-Christian in tolerance – then the choices others make because equally as relavant.

#34 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 4:12 pm

ouch!

#35 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 4:17 pm

Good analogy, illustrating the hypocrisy of the religious right. It’s a slippery slope we live in when we try to separate good from evil, in a society where we can’t just “get along.”

#36 Comment By JimmyO On August 15, 2012 @ 4:19 pm

I’m pretty sure that’s the same line of reasoning that certain Muslims use to justify forcing women to wear Burkas. That all men have no self control. So you’re saying that boys and girls and gay boys and lesbian girls should all be segregated? Or should gay boys be allowed to join the girl scouts since they wouldn’t want to “put their willies” in the girls?

And as I recall, the only boys who ever tried to “mess around” with me during early puberty (which I found gross) all turned out heterosexual and now have wives and children.

#37 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 4:26 pm

[3]
Good point. The fact that a gay person molesting a youth of the same sex is more likely to go to prison vs a heterosexual person who molests a youth of the opposite sex, goes to our biggotry of the lifestyle rather the crime of sex with a underaged person. How many teachers having sex with their 17 year old opposite sex students, do not go to prison or serve probation on sexual predator roles? Until we treat gays as one of us, we’ll never understand this dichotomy.

#38 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 4:27 pm

what “name” did Obamwins (ouch!) all you? I just curious. . . . like you ;o)

#39 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 4:29 pm

Reminds me of the story that goes “first they came for the gypsies, and I didn’t speak up. . . then they came for me, and there was no one to speak for me.”

#40 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 4:30 pm

feigned oppression is always good for a laugh at the irony of the issue.

It’s rather refreshing from most eLetter rants by the conservative right majority on this forum, that Julie’s comments are spot lighted for her bigotry, and thor’s attempt to rationally explain the bigotry of him and Julie, are in a minority. Keep hope alive!

#43 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 4:40 pm

Jimmy, I wouldn’t “honor” this kind of bigotted ignorance with a reply. I’m still wondering what the motivation of the editorial staff of the Post was to even post this bigotted narrative. Maybe they were trying to incite the readership, or maybe it had a more sad objective?

#44 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 4:41 pm

the “hate speech stops,” Tom when people with courage and those values that the Christians believe Jesus had (and I’m no Christian) speak up and put an end to this bigotry by shaming it into an oblivious past.

#45 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 5:10 pm

here’s another example of our raging fears. . [4]

#46 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 5:11 pm

ouch! (deja vu!)

#47 Comment By FakeDrudge.com On August 15, 2012 @ 5:14 pm

There you go, admitting that boys will be boys… if they messed with you the girls must’ve had it much worse. I’m sure they did, in fact, because as you point out most boys do eventually grow up to marry women. But please don’t expect me to believe that /because/ you’re gay you’re any less of a pervert than any other little boy.

We keep the girls away from the boy scouts because we know what boys like to do with their willies. We keep girls away so it wont happen to them. What makes you think it wouldn’t happen to gay boys?

#48 Comment By jimmyB On August 15, 2012 @ 5:26 pm

“LGBT inclusiveness in organizations like the BSA will be no big deal, and we’ll shake our heads in wonder that people ever gave credence to such fear.” True, that, Tom. But, it will take time and the education of those who have such a mindset, that the vast majority of gays are no more likely to molest children than are the vast majority of “straight” people, just as educating folks that you can’t “catch being gay” just be being near a gay person, any more than another person’s skin color would rub off on you, if you just happened to touch a person with a different skin color.
Ignorance is a hard thing to over come.

#49 Comment By jimmyB On August 15, 2012 @ 5:31 pm

I’m not sure how you’d classify Sandusky. Wouldn’t “child-molesting monster” be more correct?

#50 Comment By JimmyO On August 15, 2012 @ 5:32 pm

Probably because they know 50 people are now going to send letters to the editor with remarks about her bigotry. And to remind people like me (a gay parent) why I have to choose very carefully where I live. I’d hate to live next door to someone like Julie and have my children exposed to such bigotry!

#51 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 6:46 pm

Martin Niemoller was a conservative German Protestant minister, who at first supported Adolph Hitler. However, the more he saw of Hitler’s regime, the more he grew to detest it.
He created the “Confessing Church” movement of German laypeople and clergy who were alarmed at the accommodations that mainstream churches were making to Hitler. He became more and more outspoken, and the authorities sent him to the Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps for several years. He survived [the best revenge against the Nazis, IMHO] and lived for another 40 years. He became involved in the nuclear disarmament movement.
There are literally dozens of variations on his most favorite quotation, made after WWII ended, partly because the first time he uttered it, it was spontaneous, made orally, and no one thought to record it, and also because he said it more than once, with variations. According to Wikiquotes, this is probably closest to the original:

When they locked up the Social Democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a Social Democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn’t a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

There are also circulating versions that substitute Communists for Social Democrats, insert a line about coming for Roman Catholics and he didn’t speak out because he was a Protestant, etc.
But the intent is clear: Complacency about people who aren’t like you — until it’s too late.

#52 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 6:56 pm

Solely and exclusively because you are gay. She uses no other evidence. Just the mere fact of your sexual orientation.
She would be appalled if a shopkeeper refused to serve a black person solely because the person is black.
But, she has no problem doing same with gay people.

#53 Comment By JimmyO On August 15, 2012 @ 7:05 pm

Luckily I never encounter people like this in my world. All my neighbors accept me and my family as equals. Plus we have plenty of other gay couples with kids in our neighborhood. I will discourage my boys from joining the cub/boy scouts though.

#54 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 7:19 pm

I can’t blame you.
I’ve heard, but never checked out, there’s another group similar in concept to the Boy Scouts, called the Highlander Boys, that does not exclude on the basis of sexual orientation.If you like the overall concept of the Boy Scouts, you might check the Highlanders out.

#55 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2012 @ 7:27 pm

Boys will be boys, but:
1) The religiously uptight make it the girls’ problem to fix. Wear clothing from head to toe. Don’t show your real hair or your earlobes. Segregate yourself from the men, etc.. Instead, why not put the blame squarely where it belongs, on the men and boys, and tell the men and boys to clean up their act?
2) Somehow, heterosexual boys are excused or admired (hubba! hubba!) when they, um, get into mischief, while gay boys are condemned, reviled, loathed, beaten.
3) “We’re men, we can’t help ourselves” is a pathetic excuse.

#56 Comment By JimmyO On August 15, 2012 @ 7:39 pm

Thanks! I’ll check it out.

#57 Comment By TomFromTheNews On August 15, 2012 @ 8:22 pm

Perhaps the scariest thing about this letter is that it is purportedly from a nice suburban “mom”, engaged in the molding of young minds and attitudes. I sincerely hope her Eagle scout sons have progressed beyond the bigotry of their mother.

#58 Comment By thor On August 15, 2012 @ 8:31 pm

Not to worry about the applause because you still haven’t met the criteria. Moving on: I do have, or have had, gay friends. They are my friends because I treat them like I want to be treated. But none of my gay friends have shown an interest in working with kids. I have not had to cross that bridge so I have no idea how either they or I would handle that if they did want to work with kids.

#59 Comment By thor On August 15, 2012 @ 8:33 pm

In his reply to marcus16, he referred to me as pathetic. We want constructive dialogue and challenges on here, not name calling.

#60 Comment By Obamawins On August 15, 2012 @ 11:42 pm

Great defense of your homophobia!! So as long as gay people don’t work with kids…..then they’re okay??? But if they do…..then you “wouldn’t take the chance” that they’d be molested, so they wouldn’t be your friend anymore?? But not knowing anything about a heterosexual working with kids, you’d have complete trust, because they’re not gay???
You’re digging yourself deeper and deeper into that homophobic hole.
The only thing you said that is true is that “you have had” gay friends. Past tense. Cause if you had any now, and they saw your posts, they’d drop you as a “friend” immediately.
And this line:
“They are my friends because I treat them like I want to be treated.”
So you’d be okay with them “suspecting” you of being a pedophile if you worked with kids??
You’re still even more pathetic.

#61 Comment By Obamawins On August 15, 2012 @ 11:49 pm

If you think your post was constructive, then you proved me correct!Pathetic is the only word to describe your post.
And we don’t need whining on here either.

#62 Comment By thor On August 16, 2012 @ 1:15 am

Wow. Now I see why you don’t post anything of substance. You wouldn’t recognize substance if it hit you. But keep on attacking, it fits your name, Obamawins. After all, since he hasn’t done anything good for our country, he needs to just attack Mitt Romney. Stay true.

#63 Comment By Obamawins On August 16, 2012 @ 1:37 am

Keep on whining. Loser!!

#64 Comment By Gaius On August 16, 2012 @ 1:58 am

Are you as stupid as you sound? Probably not or the handlers at your facility wouldn’t let you use the computer.

#65 Comment By Gaius On August 16, 2012 @ 1:59 am

You ought to try name calling. Idiots like him don’t respond to anything else.

#66 Comment By Gaius On August 16, 2012 @ 2:02 am

Hey, tool, why don’t you tell me how noble are. Oh, wait a minute, you are too busy telling everyone else. What a tool you are.

#67 Comment By Gaius On August 16, 2012 @ 2:03 am

Hey, tool, it takes one to know one.

#68 Comment By Obamawins On August 16, 2012 @ 2:06 am

Oh, you must be one of thor’s gay friends! No, you’re just a loser!

#69 Comment By Gaius On August 16, 2012 @ 2:08 am

Hey, tool, if you are going to pretend to know something you need to do better than that. No gypsies in that statement. It was the commies, the trade unionist and then the Jews. You seem to like to see your weak little minds output written down somewhere. What’s the matter not smart enough to get a letter to the editor published?

#70 Comment By thor On August 16, 2012 @ 3:06 am

Keep on proving my point, whiner.

#71 Comment By NRKist On August 16, 2012 @ 3:56 am

He had sex with both genders, so he is properly considered bisexual.

#72 Comment By Obamawins On August 16, 2012 @ 11:57 am

So you never answer anything, whiner. Answer this:
“They are my friends because I treat them like I want to be treated.”
So you’d be okay with them “suspecting” you of being a pedophile if you worked with kids??

Well????? All you do is whine that I called you names? Boohoo!
And look who you attract as an ally, yeah that other loser “gaius”.

#73 Comment By adion On August 16, 2012 @ 2:33 pm

The views expressed by Julie
Richmond (Why should Scouts, society defer to gay community?) demonstrate
precisely why the Boy Scouts must reverse their discriminatory and harmful
policy of excluding gays from membership or leadership positions. I can’t find
a single sentence in her letter that isn’t indicative of utter ignorance and
bigotry

One item at a time:

1. The
fact that any segment of society is in the minority does not justify
discrimination against that segment.

2. Hate
to break this to you, Julie, but there is a decent likelihood that there were
gay scouts and leaders on any given campout. There may even have been gays in
the locker room at school, or the next pew in church, or any other venue
outside your traditional household.

3. How
many studies and reports are required before people finally stop believing that
gay is synonymous with pedophile? The great majority of pedophiles prey on
members of the opposite sex. Yet, people
like Julie continue to perpetuate the “danger” of gays in proximity to our precious
youth.

4. Acceptance
of homosexuality is not a trendy, up-to-date fashion. It is a long overdue
acceptance of a diverse element of humanity.

I was a Boy Scout. I honor the
time I spent in the organization and the work that all involved do in teaching
young men so many valuable lessons. But I also recognize that the world has
changed, and for the better in this case. It is time to stop bullying and
shaming people for what they are. It is time to respect that differences of
sexuality are innate and immutable and part of the myriad differences that
define humanity and harm no one.

This is why the Scouts should
“defer” (meaning “accept”)the gay community. Doing so would give scouting the
opportunity to be an even stronger organization and contribute so much more to
the health of the community they serve. It is time for the Boy Scouts to do the
right thing. Certainly they will receive no support from me as long as they
continue to contribute to the fear and hatred and indignity thrust on those
different from ourselves.

#74 Comment By Warren Stott On August 16, 2012 @ 4:27 pm

when I was a scout we it did not matter what religion or color or race you were and Ias with all of society, there were certainly gay members and leaders. That scouting taught us acceptance and cooperation, it made us part of a worldwide community of brothers. That scouting taught me to be the best person I could be and that commuity was important. I do not see where today’s scouting benefits from teaching all those things with the overriding caveat emptor unless you are not a Christian or Jew.

#75 Comment By thor On August 16, 2012 @ 8:20 pm

I don’t comment about you calling me names because I’m, in your mind, a whiner. I comment on you calling me names, thanks for admitting it, because its poor dialogue. And it reflects badly on you, not me.

Okay, I will comment on one thing. Don’t you treat your friends the way you want to be treated? That’s called the Golden Rule. Its a universal rule, or aren’t you aware of that. I would not expect my gay friends to suspect me of being a pedophile because I would never suspect it of them. But groups like the Boy scouts have a serious charge of boys life’s. They have to make the best call that they can about the men who will lead the boys. BTW, I do work with kids and all of us that do such work are under constant scrutiny about the possibility of doing something on toward.

#76 Comment By Obamawins On August 16, 2012 @ 11:02 pm

Look up the word “pathetic”. That’s you, always looking for sympathy, pity and feeling “attacked”. And not answering what was actually posted. You simply claim “you call me names” to deflect away from answering.
Have you ever heard “practice what you preach?”. Because you sure don’t do it. But you preach all the time.
Here’s what you posted: “As to whether or not a gay Scout leader is a pedophile, no parent can take that chance.”
So explain that. I asked you if it’s only scout leaders you are homophobic about. You didn’t answer. So how can you say you “would never suspect it of them”, meaning your supposed gay friends.
So quit whining and nobody will accuse you of it. Simple as that.

#77 Comment By thor On August 17, 2012 @ 1:43 am

If I’m the whiner, then why do you always respond as if you’ve been stung by my remarks? You should use all caps next time, like you did when you were a kid and outshouted someone who called you bugger breath. So, like you said, quit whining and post something substantive.

#78 Comment By Obamawins On August 17, 2012 @ 2:20 am

Okay, I see you’re regressing to a childish behavior. So sad you eventually turn to that. That’s another one of your standard, mundane, non responses. But it’s obvious you can’t defend your posts. Which are indefensible!

#79 Comment By thor On August 17, 2012 @ 5:38 pm

I’m only trying to catch up with you. So, since one of us has to be the grown up, let it be me. I’ve tried to help you compose a comment of substance, but maybe you don’t know what it means. Substance: of substantial quantity. Or, if substance doesn’t do it for you, try writing a comment that is original thought, not in response to something someone else wrote. Good luck.

#80 Comment By Obamawins On August 17, 2012 @ 6:02 pm

You’re trying to catch up to me as a grownup, but you’re failing miserably. So your definition of “substance” is “substantial quantity”? So you must love robtf’s posts…….lot of quantity but not much rational thinking.
And what do you and all posters write??? You write “in response to something someone else wrote”. So again, you make no sense. And still didn’t answer anything I asked you about. You’re looking more and more foolish. Best if you stop now. I know I’m bored with you!!!
Bye bye.

#81 Comment By thor On August 17, 2012 @ 7:55 pm

If you weren’t so determined to bring a knife to a gun fight, I wouldn’t have toyed with you for so long. Also, if you read the rules for posting on here, we both were wrong in keeping this battle going. Bye, Bye.

#82 Comment By Hans On August 20, 2012 @ 5:35 pm

It is sad that an otherwise-wonderful organization has such backward leadership. My familiy is very outdoor oriented and my two boys would love to participate in their activities. But I can not reconcile it with my conscience to support them.

#83 Comment By No gay in BSA On August 25, 2012 @ 7:51 pm

I don’t care what you people think, but I will earn my Eagle as long as the BSA doesn’t allow homos to share a tent with me. It’s an extremely unsettling thought, and interferes with the values the BSA was established on.